Apparatus for electrolytically producing metal alloys



E. KELSEN May 5, 1931.

APPARATUS FOR BLECTROLYTICALLY PRODUCING METAL ALLOYS Filed Aug. 22, 1928 Fig.2.

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Z- mveMTof Patented May 5, 1931 mar Kansas, or vnnnu, 'aus'rnra AP?1"US II'OR ELEGIBOLY'IICALLY PRODUCING METAL ALLOYS application filed August 88, 1988, Serial Io. 801,838, and in Austria August 24, 182?.

5 layers of the single metals, of which the alloy is to be composed, theallop is obtained in a urely electrol ic way. or this purpose or instance so uble anodes of the respective metals, each of which anodes is connected toa source of electric current, are brought to co-act with a common rotary cathode.' In a known ap aratus for carrying out this method, a cat ode having the form of a solid traced out in revolution (for instance that of a cylinder) is moved along baths containing the dii ierent electrolytes, closing of the circult being brought about thereby; in this a paratus the de osited metal mass is on t e way between t e several electrol ic baths pressed and smoothed b means 0 polishing tools, particularly suita 1e smoothing stones (agates), this method bein known as Elmore process. In order to able of doing so only small sections of the mantle surface of the rotary cathode were successively brought-into contact with the electrolytic baths, and in the interstitial spaces between the baths polishing stones and appliances for rinsln or washing the deposits were arrange According to the resent invention in an apparatus of the a orementioned between the mantle surface of the rotatm for instance cylindrical cathode and the ad acent surfaces of the walls of the tanks or vats containing the electrolytes a clearance is provided in order to prevent the deposit formed on the mantle where passing through the bath from being secured ofi as the cathode continuously rotating, and underneath each electrolytic tank a receptacle isplaced, which takes up the ortions of electrolyte leaking out through t e clearances. In connection with each of these collecting receptacles a pipe duct with a ump is provided, which raves the liquid ack into the respective electrolytic tank. By this way the possibility is given of increasing the speed of rotation of the cathode to sue .degree, that extremely thin layers of deposit are formed, which without any further treatment are for themselves of sufiicient density, so that the operations of pressing, smoothing and washing the deposited metal layers between the severalnsed with. .Moreover the further possibihty is 'ven thereby of arrangin the different aths around nearly. the entire mantle surface of the rotary body constituting the cathode. ,1

According to a special and particularly advantageous feature of the invention means for purifyingthe liquid may be combined with the device for 'eading back the electrolyte into the electrolytic tanks. For this purpose the receptacles placed below the electrolgtic vats may constitute filters themselves or so they may be combined with separate filtering a pliancesi In the rawing an embodiment of the mvention is shown by way of example, Fig. 1 being a sectionalelevation and Fig. 2 a plan v1ew.-

1 and 2 are thevats or tanks containing the difierent electrolytes for forming the diiierent metallic deposits and 3 is a c lindncal cathode electricallyconnected to t e circuit by means of brushes and wires 7. This cylinder protrudes by its mantle throu a sultably shaped opening in a side w of each electrolytic tank thus constituting part of the respective wall and is rotated by any suitable means. 8 and 9 are soluble metal anodes with terminals and electric line wires 10 and 11. Below the tanks the collecting reciptacles 4 and 5 are placed, which take u e portions of electro yte escaping throug the clearances between the cylinder and the edges of the walls of the tanks 1 and 2. By pumps 6 the electrolytes are sucked up through t..e pipes 12 and driven back into he respgctive baths can be dispe electrolytic tanks through the pipes What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for electrolytically producing metal alloys, which apparatus comprises a lots cathode, a luralityof tanks containing di erent electro ytic baths, WhlCh tanks are arranged around the cathode in such manner, that the cathode will be successively ut into contact with each of the said different aths and that between the rotary cathode and the edges of the tank walls formed by said arrangement there remain clearances, re-

ceptacles placed underneath the tanks for collecting the electrolytes escaping by leakage through said clearances and means f or leading back the collected electrolytes into the respective electrolyticutanksp p Q 2. An apparatus for electrolytically producing metal alloys, which apparatus comprises a rota containing di 'erent electrolytic baths, which tanks are arranged around the cathode in such manner, that the cathode will be, successively put into contact with each of the said different baths and that between the rotary cathode and the edges of the tank walls formed by said arrangement there remain clearances, receptacles placed underneath the tanks for collecting the electrolytes escaping by leakage through said clearances, means for leading back the collected electrolytes into the respective electrolytic tanks and a filter.- ing device combined with the means for leading back the electrolytes.

3. An apparatus for electrolytically producing metal alloys, which apparatus comprises a rota cathode a plurality of tanks containing di erent electrolytic baths, which tanks are arranged around the cathode nearly to the entire extent of its mantle surface in such manner, that the cathode will be successively put into contact with each of the said difl'erent baths and that between the rotary cathode and the edges of the tank walls formed by said arrangement there remain clearances, receptacles placed underneath the tanks for collecting the electrolytes escaping by leakage through said clearances and means for leading back the collectedelectrolytes into the respective electrolytic tanks.

4. An apparatus for electrolytically producing metal alloys, which apparatus comprises a rotary cathode, a plurality of tanks containing different electrolytic baths, which tanks are arranged around the cathode nearly to the entire extent of its mantle surface in such manner, that the cathode will be successively put into contact with each of the said difierent baths and that between the rotary cathode and the edges of the tank walls formed by said arrangement there remain clearances, receptacles placed underneath the tanks for collectmg the electrolytes escaping by leakage through said clearances, means for leadmg back the collected electrolytes into the respective electrolytic tanks, and a filtermg device combined with the means for lead- 7 ing back the electrolytes from the said receptacles into the respective tanks. r

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my sig nature.

ERNST mLSEN.

wearer cathode a plurality of tanks 

